&#34;Variety of Hydrangea Plant Named &#39;Horath&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  plant having good stem quality and a compact growth habit.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Hydrangea macrophylla hybrid

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘HORATH’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant known by the varietal name ‘Horath’. The new variety was discovered in 2002 in a planned breeding program in Dresden, Germany. The purpose of the breeding program was to develop compact, blue Hydrangeas. The new variety is the result of a cross between breeding selection 30-89/3 (female parent, unpatented) and ‘Venice Raven’ (male parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,928, also referred to as Venedig). The vigor and growth habit of ‘Horath’ are similar to 30-89/3, but ‘Horath’ differs in flower color and foliage characteristics. The branching habit and inflorescence diameter of ‘Horath’ are similar to ‘Venice Raven’, but ‘Horath’ differs in color and growth habit. The new variety was first asexually reproduced in 2002 via propagation by cuttings in Germany. The new variety has been trial and field tested in Germany and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.

The following traits distinguish ‘Horath’ as a new and distinct cultivar from other Hydrangea varieties known to the breeder:

1. Stem quality;

2. Vigor;

3. Compact growth habit;

4. Forcing time; and

5. Color, after blue treatment.

‘Horath’ is similar to another Hydrangea variety, ‘Atlantic Blue’ (unpatented), because they are both mopheads with good stem quality. However, ‘Horath’ differs from ‘Atlantic Blue’ in growth habit, inflorescence size and dark blue color after treatment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is photograph of an entire plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the new cultivar. The plants were grown in 13 cm. pots in peat substrate at a pH of 5.7 and were 10 months past propagation when described. Measurements and color readings of the plants were taken in Dresden, Germany under natural light with a shadow present. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

-   Plant:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 15 days at 18° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 20 days at 18° C.         -   Rooting habit.—Strong and adventitious root system.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted             cutting.—About 43 weeks in a 13 cm. container.         -   Form.—Symmetrical.         -   Height (from media surface to top of foliage).—16.0 cm.         -   Height (from media surface to top of flowers).—24.0 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—38.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Strong.         -   Strength.—No artificial support needed.         -   Branching habit.—Well-branched.         -   Trunk.—Main trunk length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm. Color:             199D. Texture: Woody. Pubescence: Absent. Internode length:             1.0 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: Young: 13.0 cm. Mature: 2.0 cm.             Diameter: Young: 0.5 cm. Mature: 0.7 cm. Internode length:             2.5 cm. Texture: Smooth with dark lenticels. Pubescence:             Absent. Lenticel: Length: 0.5 mm. Width: 0.5 mm. Shape:             Mostly round. Color: Young: 143C. Mature: 199D. Lenticel             color: 177A.         -   Foliage.—Arrangement: Mostly opposite disposition. Size of             leaf: Length: 9.0 cm. Width: 6.0 cm. Shape of leaf             (generally): Young: Ovate. Mature: Ovate. Shape of apex:             Cuspidate. Shape of base: Obtuse. Texture: Matte, but             slightly shiny. Aspect: Undulate. Margin type: Serrate.             Pubescence: None present. Color: Young leaves: Upper             surface: 139A. Lower surface: 137B. Mature leaves: Upper             surface: 139A. Lower surface: 137B. Petiole: Shape:             U-shaped. Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.25 cm. Color: 138B.             Veins: Venation type: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: 138C.             Lower surface: 138D. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—July in Dresden, Germany.         -   Flower habit.—Late blooming after 11 weeks of forcing.         -   Bud.—Stage of development when described: At full             coloration. Shape of cluster: Round. Diameter of cluster:             5.0 cm. Number of buds per cluster: 4 fertile, 10 sterile.             Shape: Fertile: Round. Sterile: Round. Length: Fertile:             0.3 cm. Sterile: 0.3 cm. Width: Fertile: 0.2 cm. Sterile:             0.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence.—Shape: Mophead. Length: 8.0 cm. Diameter:             13.0 cm. Average number of flowers per inflorescence: 25             fertile, 85 sterile. Average number of inflorescences per             plant: 6. Lastingness: Fertile: Three weeks. Sterile: Five             weeks.         -   Petals.—Number per flower: 4 to 6. Color: Upper surface:             63D. Lower surface: 63D. Shape: Round to ovate. Length:             0.4 cm. Width: 0.2 cm. Apex: Pointy. Base: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture: Smooth. Tonality from a distance: Mixed             color.         -   Sepals.—Number per flower: 4 to 5. Color: 142C. Shape:             Ovate. Length: 0.1 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Apex: Pointy. Base:             Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Fused: Yes.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity: 4 to 5. Shape: Round to ovate. Length:             2.0 cm. Width: 2.0 cm. Color: Upper surface: N66D. Lower             surface: 73C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: Fertile : 0.5 cm. Sterile: 2.0 cm.             Diameter: Fertile: 0.1 cm. Sterile: 0.2 cm. Color: 73C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: 2.5 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm. Texture: Smooth             with dark lenticels. Color: 143C.         -   Stamens.—Number per fertile flower: 7 to 9. Filament:             Length: 0.2 cm. Color: 65C. Anthers: Shape: Round to             elongated. Length: 0.1 cm. Color: 1D. Pollen: Color: 1D.             Amount: Plentiful.         -   Pistils.—Number: 1, divided into 3 parts. Length: 0.1 cm.             Style: Length: 0.1 cm. Color: 65C. Stigma (divided into 3             parts): Color: 65C. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Ovaries (inferior):             Length: 0.3 cm. Width: 0.2 cm. Color: 1D.         -   Fragrance.—Fresh and “green”.         -   Disease resistance.—Tolerant to botrytis and powdery mildew.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Medium, not fully winterhardy flower             buds in Germany.         -   Drought tolerance.—Medium. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Hydrangea plant substantially as shown and described herein. 